New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub

05/09/2026

How fantastic is this?

NZ Maori delegation to Israel!

18/08/2026

https://nzbusiness.co.nz/business/sir-peter-gluckman-david-thodey-to-lead-push-on-nzs-start-up-nation-ambitions

The New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub (NZIIH) will host its Annual Leaders' Luncheon 2026 on Wednesday 26 August.

01/08/2026

Israel's STEM per capita workforce is the highest in the OECD

30/07/2026

HiCenter Ventures, in collaboration with the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub (NZIIH), is pleased to invite you to a unique event exploring business and market opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. Featuring Executive Director, Josh Brown.

An exclusive evening for DefenceTech founders, investors, and innovation leaders 🚀 HiCenter Ventures, in collaboration with the New Zealand Israel Innovation…

29/06/2026

🌍 Brave conversations. Global connections. Shared prosperity.🌍

We're incredibly pleased to announce the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub Leaders' Luncheon 2026, an afternoon of honest dialogue on the questions shaping New Zealand's future as a small, innovation-driven economy entering the AI era.

Themes for the day include closing the gap between university labs and global markets, building a national innovation strategy that outlasts political cycles, and becoming the "Startup Nation" of the Pacific.

We're so excited to bring together some of the most respected voices across science, technology, governance, and business to find out:

The people we've asked to lead that conversation:
🔹 Sir Peter Gluckman ONZ KNZM — President, International Science Council; former Chief Science Advisor to three Prime Ministers
🔹David Thodey AO — Chancellor, University of Sydney; Chair of Xero & Ramsay Health Care; former CEO of Telstra
🔹Henri Eliot LLB MBA CPA CFInstD — Founder & CEO, Board Dynamics; Israel's Honorary Consul in Auckland
🔹Sharron Lloyd (MC) — Chief Executive NZ, Trans-Tasman Business Circle
🔹 Simon Bridges - Former leader of the National Party and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber
🔹More influential and respected names to be announced shortly.

📅 Wednesday, 26 August 2026
🕧 12:30 PM
📍 Viaduct Harbour, Auckland - Address to be revealed following registration.

Premium waterfront dining and the kind of room where business, science, tech and government leaders from New Zealand and Israel actually talk to each other.

🎟️ Early bird: 40% off until 6 July — use code OFF40 at checkout.
Secure your place 👉 https://nziihluncheon2026.base44.app/

06/05/2026

https://youtu.be/EKhEUzMh5mc?si=Rb13yF_PBozCkH11

​A rapidly evolving confrontation involving Israel, Iran, and the United States is reshaping the strategic balance of the Middle East. This geopolitical shif...

13/04/2026

Hi all, please feel welcome to sign up for this upcoming geopolitical discussion I'm hosting around the current Middle East conflict. The line up is absolutely huge featuring some of the world's top experts.

​Ahmed Quraishi - Pakistan Middle East Specialist currently advising the American Jewish Congress.
Ella Rosenberg - Regulatory Export at the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs
Eitan Fischberger - Independent researcher and writer for the National Review, NBC News, New York Daily News.
Bren Carlill - Middle East analyst at the Australian Israel Jewish Affairs Council
Simon O'Connor - Former National MP and NZ commentator and podcaster

May 6th, 5 PM.

A rapidly evolving confrontation involving Israel, Iran, and the United States is reshaping the strategic balance of the Middle East. This geopolitical shift…

25/02/2026

https://www.barrons.com/news/battered-by-gaza-war-israel-s-tech-sector-in-recovery-mode-0961f723

Israel's vital tech sector, dragged down by the war in Gaza, is showing early signs of recovery, buoyed by a surge in defence innovation and fresh investment momentum.

15/02/2026

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-01-18/israel-s-wartime-tech-economy-video

Israel has long been known as the “startup nation,” and its tech sector accelerated during the Israel-Hamas war. Since 2023, Israeli startups have raised record levels of private capital, driven by growth in cybersecurity, defense, artificial intelligence, biotech, and dual-use technologies. Aut...

13/02/2026

➡️ Are KiwiSaver funds drifting from performance to politics? ⬅️

There is a growing perception among some investors that parts of the KiwiSaver industry may be shifting away from their primary objective, which should be about maximising long-term returns, and becoming increasingly influenced by political considerations.

At the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub, we’ve been hearing from individuals concerned that fund managers may be prioritising ESG frameworks and high-profile divestment decisions, including what they view as unjustified exclusions of Israel, over performance-focused global investment strategies.

(It's worth noting here that in 2025, Israel's stock market was one of the world's best performers, yet Kiwis were completely excluded from this rally because, by and large, Kiwisaver funds like Pathfinder and Simplicity have dropped their exposure to zero.)

If a meaningful number of KiwiSaver members feel their retirement savings are being directed toward political or social positions they do not support, that signals potential demand for an alternative approach, one centred on:
• Transparency
• Strong long-term returns
• A clearly defined investment mandate
• Minimal ideological overlay
• Exposure to global innovation markets, including Israel

We are currently engaging with a KiwiSaver provider open to treating Israel like any other country within a global share fund. Before progressing discussions, they would like to understand the level of potential member interest.

If you hold a KiwiSaver account, we would appreciate you taking 2 minutes to complete this short research survey:

👉 https://forms.gle/Z2Jj86zR5wDgMGs66

Participation is voluntary and may be anonymous. Responses will be used solely for research and discussion purposes.

💸 Incentive: 💸
Participants who complete the survey and provide contact details will go into a draw to win one of three $50 Prezzy Cards.

This survey is for research purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, an offer, or a solicitation to invest. Any potential fund offering would be subject to regulatory approval and disclosure requirements.

Appreciate your engagement on this. Any questions can be directed to [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])

Thank you. The team at the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub.

There is growing concern among some investors that certain KiwiSaver funds may be placing political or ESG considerations ahead of their primary goal of maximising long-term returns. At the New Zealand Israel Innovation Hub (NZIIH), we’ve heard from individuals who feel some fund managers are maki...